Weft detector for looms



Patented June 28, 1927.

ELBRIDGE It. no MEaor wononsrnn, lviassaonnsn'rrs, ssienoaro onomeron &

KNOWLES nooivrwofni s, or woncns rnn, massaon'nsnrrs, AooiiPon frIoN or MAssaoH IsEfrrs.

WEFT DETECTOR EQ B Application" filed October 1, 1924. Serial No. 741,038.

This invention relates to improvements in weft detectors for looms audit is the general object of my'invent-ion to provide a weft detector with a plurality of individual detectors to cooperate with a bobbin of special construction which will not permit the detector to have an operative movement until practically empty. Y

Another object of my invention is to pro- :vide a detector with a plurality of independent-ly movable and adjustable detecting elements which can be adjusted to meet varying Conditions of the bobbin andisur'face to be detected.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide a plurality of independently movable and adjustable detectors all of which can be withdrawn from the shuttle on a transferring pick by a single device.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. 3

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown one formof my invention,

' Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a weft detector having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and C v v Fig. 4c is a vertical section on line t t of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that I have provided a stan d- 10 on which is mounted a supporting stud 11 passing through a bed 12 limited in its downward motion by screw 13 adjustable in the stand 10. In the forward part of the stand 10 is journale d a shaft 1 1 having secured thereto an upwardly extending arm 15 provided with a broadened upper-end having a plurality of openings16.

As shown in Fig. 3 it will be seen that the bed 12 is slot-ted to receive a plurality of detector carriers, two of which are shown herein as at 17 and 1-8. The carriersare substantially the same and may be made tubular with the front'ends thereof partly closed asshown at 19 in Fig. 4; t0 define relatively narrow slots 20. Riveted or otherwise secured to the top of each of the carriers is a clip- 21 through which passes the reduced shank 22 ofa screw 23which is threaded in the rear wall 24 of a cap 25. The forward end of the shank 22extendsthrough the front Wall of the cap 25 to be guided thereby. The rear end of the screw 23 is formed with a square head by means of which it maybe adjusted, the adjustment being held by a set screw 26. It is to beunderstood thatthere 1s a screw 23 for each of the carriers 17 and 18 and that said screws are independent of each other in their adjustment so that by moving the same with respect to the cap 25 the pos itions of the carriers can be adjusted withrespect to the bed and each other. Cap 25 may be held to the bed 12 by means of screws 27. I

The carriers 17 and 18 are provided with detectors 28 and 29, respectively, which are made of rods the rear ends of which may be rounded for engagement withthe bobbin. Eachdetector is provided with a collet30 -which is held against the rear end of the supporting carrier by means of a light spring 31 which lies between a collar 32 carried by the detector and a block weldedor otherwise secured in the rear endof the said carrier. The hole in the block is sufficiently large to permit slight angular movement of the detector. In order to position the collar 32 I provide a small cotter pin 34 which is accessible through an opening the bottom of the carrier.

When the device is to beused in connec- 1 tion with a multi-color weft replenishing mechanism it will be'usedon the single box end of the lay andmust; therefore be withdrawn at the time of transfer to prevent injury'by the incoming bobbin. Accordingly, I attach, as by welding, to carrier 18a 'brackct 36' which extends beyond the bed 12 into the path of the stud 37 formed on thetransferrer arm 38. In order to require both carriers to move at the time of transfer I provide the carrier 18 with a lip 39 which extends into a slot 10 formed in the adjacent wall of carrier 17. The slot 40 is ofsufficient length to allow a slight relative longitudinal adjustment of: the detectors and the motion of stud: 37"is suflicient to withdraw both detectors from thepath of the 1 m,

ing bobbin.

Secured to shaft'14 is an arm 11 to. the

upper end of which is operatively connected 35 formed in a controller pin 42 the rear end of which is reversely bent to be received by an opening 4C3 formed in a part of the stand 10. An actuator 44 receives a regular downward motion on the detecting pick and is adapted for engagement with the controller pin whenever arm ll is moved forwardly to effect a change in the operation of the loom, such as transferring a full bobbin into the active shuttle.

I provide special bobbins B each having an indicating surface formed with inclined portions 46 which define depressions 47 and ribs 48, respectively. The distance between the depressions and the ribs on the bobbin is so related to the distance between the detectors 28 and 29 that one of the latter will always engage an inclined surface when a properly placed bobbin moves forwardly.

Lever 15 may carry a stop screw 49 to engage the bed and limit rearward movement thereof under action of spring 50 which is connected to said lever and a portion of the stand 10.

In the operation of the device the light springs 31 push forwardly on the collars 32 to hold the collets against blocks 33 thus positioning the detectors centrally with respect to their carriers. lVhen in this position an advancing full bobbin will move the detectors forwardly so that they will pass through the opening 16 formed in lever 15. lVhen the yarn has been substantially exhausted from the bobbin, one of the detectors will engage an inclined portion 46 and be moved angularly either to the right or the left depending upon which surface is engaged. As the bobbin advances the forward end of the angularly disposed detector will engage a solid portion of the lever 15 and move the latter forwardly. This will result in rocking shaft 14 to move the lever 41 forwardly thus drawing the controller pin. 42 under the actuator 44. The indication of substantial weft exhaustion thus given can be stored in a. mechanism such as shown in Patent No. 1,030,748 and upon a subsequent arrival of the indicating shuttle the transferrer arm 38 will move to bring the stud 37 against bracket 36. Carrier 18 will thereupon move forwardly and tongue 39 will engage the forward end of slot 40 in carrier 17 thus withdrawing both detectors 28 and 29 from the shuttle.

The yarn engaging portions of the detectors is of less horizontal dimension than the distance between adjacent ribs, in order to permit the detector to slide lengthwise of the bobbin when exhausted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I means for withdrawing all of the detectors from a single point.

Having thus described my invention it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft detector for looms operating with a bobbin having inclined surfaces, an actuator to effect a change in the operation of the loom, controller mechanism for the actuator, a detector element mounted for an- 7 gnlar movement and normally clearing a portion of the controller mechanism when moved forwardly by a sufiicient supply. of weft, and resilient means holding said detector in said clearing position, said detector when engaging an inclined portion sliding therealong to move angularly and engage a portion of the controller mechanism as said detector is moved forwardly by the advancing bobbin.

2. In a weft detector for looms operating with bobbins having inclined portions, a plurality of detectors, a carrier for each detector, means to mount each detector adjustably in the carrier therefor, resilient means interposed between each carrier and the detector supported thereby to hold said detector normally centrally of the carrier and permitting the detector to move angnlarly with respect to the carrier when engaging an inclined portion of the bobbin, and loom controlling mechanism actuated, by any detector in, an angular position with respect to the carrier therefor as the detector moves forwardly with. the bobbin in contact therewith.

3. In a detector for looms operating with bobbins having inclined portions to define ribs and depressions, a pair of detector elements each capable of sliding along an inclined portion of a bobbin to move angu larly, the distance betweenthe detecting surfaces of the detectors being equal to the dis tance between a rib on the bobbin and a point intermediate a rib and a depression, and means to effect a. change in the operation of the loom when either detector assumes an angular position by engagement with an. inclined surface of the bobbin.

4.- In a weft detector for looms operating with bobbins having inclined portions which define ribs and depressions, the planes of which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bobbins, a pair of detectors each movable longitudinally independently of the other and each capable of sliding along an inclined portion ofa bobbin to move angularly, the distance between the detecting surfaces of the detectors being different from the distances between any rib and any depression. and means to effect a change in the operation of the loom when either of the detectors is moved angularly by engagement with an inclined portion of the bobbin, the yarn engaging portion of the detectors having a dimension measured longitudinally of the bobbin less than the distance between adjacent ribs.

5. In a weft replenishing mechanism looms operating with bobbins having inclined portions which define ribs and depressions, a pair of detectors each capable of sliding along an inclined portion of a bobbin to move angularly, the distance between the detecting surfaces of the detectors being such that when one of said surfaces is opposite a rib the other surface will lie intermediate a rib and a depression, and means to effect a change in the operation of the loom when either detector is given an angular movement by engagement with an inclined portion of the bobbin.

6. In a weft detector for looms, supporting structure, a plurality of carriers independently adjustable in said supporting structure, a detector mounted in each carrier, resilient means to hold each detector centrally with respect to the carrier therefor but permitting angular movement of the detector, a bobbin having inclined portions to engage the detectors to move at least one of said detectors angularly when a substantially exhausted bobbin engages the detector, and means to effect a change in the operation of the loom when either detector is moved angularly by engagement with an inclined portion of the bobbin and forwardly with a bobbin as the latter advances.

7. In a detector for looms operating with bobbins having inclined portions, a plurality for of detectors, a carrier for each detector, a collet for each detector, resilient means to hold the collet'against the carrier, means to guide the detector in the plane of the bobbin, said resilient means, permitting angular movement of eachdetector, and means to change the operation of the loom when any 9. A weft detector for a loom operating' with a bobbin having a conical surface which is uncovered as the yarn approaches exhaustion, a laterally movable weft detector, a regularly moving member effective to cause a change in the operation of the loom, a controller therefor normally inoperative, said detector moving forwardly when engaged by a suflicient supply of yarn to clear the controller, and said detector engaging the conical part of the bobbin when uncovered and moving laterally by such engagement as the bobbin advances into operative position with respect tothe controller to engage the latter and render the same operative with respect to the regularly moving member as said detector continues to be moved forwardly by the bobbin.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

ELBRIDGE B. HOLMES. 

